Letter to the Family of Charles Sherrod
SNCC Legacy Project
December 20, 2014

The Sherrod Family
Albany, GA

Dear Shirley Sherrod and Family:

I am writing this letter on behalf of the SNCC Legacy Project Board that
Charles Sherrod serves on. We regret that none of the Board members can
attend this "Celebration for a Hero," however, we will be there in spirit.

After fifty-five years of service to the people of Southwest Georgia, we can
think of no one who is more deserving of this honor and celebration than our
fellow SNCC member, Charlie. He has the distinction of being one of the
student activists in the sit-in Movement who answered Ella Baker's call to come
to Shaw University over the Easter weekend in 1960. Out of that historic
gathering, SNCC was formed and Charles Sherrod quickly became one of its
leaders. He volunteered to join the Freedom Rides and he, along with others,
spent time in jail for this brave endeavor. From the time he participated in
sit-ins, he served those who needed help the most, whether it was facing down
hostile police while helping blacks to register to vote or ministering to
prisoners as he is doing now.

Charles Sherrod came to Southwest Georgia with Cordell Reagon, another SNCC
field secretary. They solicited and received the support of the Albany Youth
Chapter of the NAACP; they were welcomed into the homes of members of the
Adult Chapter of the NAACP; and the King Family of Albany, provided the first
Movement office. The people of Albany welcomed Charlie, and he provided
leadership that helped to end segregation in Southwest Georgia. His innovative
leadership demanded that local and regional Movement building must be open to
all who were willing to risk everything regardless of their age, race or
class.

The Movement in Southwest Georgia was among the first to be energized by local
student involvement. Charlie welcomed students from Albany State into the
leadership of the Movement, which included activists such as Bernice Johnson
Reagon and William Porter.

Additionally, the Southwest Georgia SNCC project was the first to recruit
black and white volunteers. Charles Sherrod did not fear the consequences of
inviting an integrated group of volunteers and SNCC staff to work together.
This was a first for SNCC, and others would follow. Those who worked in
Southwest Georgia included Penny Patch, Cordell Reagon, Charlie Jones, Peggy
Dammond Preacely, Kathwell Conwell, Ralph Allen, Bill Hansen, Bob Zellner,
Reggie Robinson, Ivanhoe Donaldson, Prathia Hall, Jack Chatfield, Christopher
Allen, Martha Prescod, Jean Wheeler, Joyce Ladner, John Churchfield, Don
Harris, Peter de Lissovoy and John Perdew.

We loudly applaud the over half a century consistent commitment of Charles
Sherrod to the people of Southwest Georgia.